7 Things You Shouldn't Do At Night To Avoid Dark Circles In The Morning

Late night study sessions or dancing until the wee hours of the A.M. can cause some unsightly patches underneath your eyes. What's worse, they can be a real pain to get rid of. That's why prevention is key to fighting raccoon eyes, so here are seven things you should never do at night to avoid dark circles. Like, ever.

Dark circles can be caused by a ton of different factors, from genetics to diet to sleep deprivation. The reason? The skin around your eyes is particularly thin, so it's easier to damage, and also shows signs of stress quicker than other parts of your face. Luckily, you can protect your skin from dark circles by moisturizing the area (read: wearing eye cream), using sunscreen religiously, staying hydrated, and eating well. But if you do all of these things and you are still waking up with an almost permanent shadow underneath your peepers, it could be thanks to your nighttime routine.

Before you reach for those expensive creams and prescription medications, consider making simple changes to your nighttime routine first. Below are seven common things you might be doing before you go to bed that could be the reason you're waking up with dark circles.

1. You Take Hot Baths

Hot water and steam can worsen your dark, puffy under eyes. Instead of taking a hot bath, wash your face with cool water to soothe your skin. Cold water can reduce the swelling under your eyes, which is what causes puffy dark circles to appear. Take things one step further and use these cooling gels from Skyn Iceland. They infuse the under-eye area with things like Icelandic glacial waters and concentrated doses of firming ingredients to de-puff and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

6. You Forget To Moisturize

Lack of moisture is the main culprit in most skin problems, so it's important to hydrate both internally and externally. You should always remember to moisturize your face least twice a day. Consider FATCO’s Myrrhaculous Face Oil, which contains a blend of concentrated rich oils and essential oils, all of which have anti-aging and healing properties. Win.

7. You Go To Bed Thirsty

The Beauty Chef’s HYDRATION Inner Beauty Boost, $40, Beauty Chef

Staying hydrated internally is just as important as slathering on moisture, if not more so, so remember to drink up before you go to bed! Try sipping on The Beauty Chef's Hydration elixir, an organic, bio-fermented and coconut-infused probiotic designed to support gut health and enhance your skin from the inside out. Delicious and nutritious — YAS.